This requires changes in regulatory frameworks in order to address the underlying social, economic and cultural systems [3]. As part of this paradigm shift, co-management has been proposed as AZD5363 a promising strategy to achieve sustainable fisheries since it has the potential to strengthen community integration [4], enhance fishing stocks [5], empower resource users [6], adapt to changing conditions [7] and incorporate both fisher׳s knowledge and scientific information in management strategies [8]. Co-management consists in the cooperation of governments and users in the exercise of resource management [9], where both parties share authority and responsibility [10]. Co-management

systems vary according to the extent of authority delegated to each party, ranging from instructive, where the decision-making process is centralized and the resource users are instructed on the decisions, to informative, where decisions are made locally and the government agencies are informed [11]. Cooperative systems aim to create a situation in which the rewards for cooperation are greater than those for competition [12], thus avoiding the tragedy of the commons [13]. Furthermore, a key component in co-management systems is their

inherent adaptive capacity. The concept of adaptive management was first proposed by Holling [14], it refers to a dynamic management see more process where policies are continuously improved according to updated information about the state of the system [15]. Recently, many successful case studies on co-management implementation have

been documented [1], [8] and [16], most of which are located in developing nations. Paradoxically, research shows that co-management has higher probability of success in areas with a high Human Development Index (HDI) [2]. European fisheries have faced increasing pressure for the past 50 years causing a depletion of stocks [17] and [18]. Fisheries management in Europe has focused on a top-down approach [19], where management strategies are a matter of international policy [20]. Several strategies have been employed to ensure the sustainability of fishing stocks in the European Union, such as the Common Fishery Policy (CFP). The CFP aims 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase to guarantee sustainable fish stocks and the economic welfare of fishing communities. However, according to the Green Paper for the reform of the CFP, as of 2009, 88% of fishing stocks were being overexploited and sustainable management had not been achieved [21]. The lack of success of the CFP has been attributed to a number of caveats in its framework and implementation. Highlighted among these caveats are, the lack of approval by the public [22], the implementation of an open access policy and numerous subsidies which promote the race for fish [17] and a framework that deters the incorporation of scientific knowledge [23].